Mixed Review from Pochettino

The Manager Had Plenty to Say After the Gold Cup Final

Mauricio Pochettino emerged from the Gold Cup final with mixed emotions, balancing pride in his team's performance with frustration over the officiating and the lack of fan support. Despite the 2-1 loss to Mexico, the Argentine coach expressed deep satisfaction with his largely inexperienced squad's development throughout the tournament.

Pochettino was particularly impressed by the culture and camaraderie his players built during the extended camp. He witnessed genuine passion and fight from his team, qualities he felt had been missing from the national program. The coach emphasized how players defended each other, citing an incident where goalkeeper Matt Freese "ran 100 meters to be in the fight" when teammate Malik Tillman was mocked by opponents.

However, Pochettino didn't shy away from controversy, calling a non-penalty decision "embarrassing" when Jorge Sánchez appeared to handle the ball in Mexico's penalty area. He suggested the hostile crowd atmosphere influenced the officials' reluctance to award crucial calls.

The coach also issued a pointed message to American fans, lamenting the lack of home support throughout the tournament. He stressed that soccer requires passionate fan backing in stadiums, not just social media support, declaring "football without fans is impossible." Looking ahead, Pochettino hinted that no player positions are guaranteed, including star Christian Pulisic, as he prioritizes commitment and fight over reputation.